steele



Aug. 4, 1925.

O. W. STEELE METER BOX COVER Fil d Sept. 22, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 4, 1925.

O. W. STEELE METER BOX-COVER "1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Se t. 22

Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

GLIVE W. ELE, F perimete -axes.

,METEB-B OX COVER.

Applicationfiledfientember 22, 1922. s ri l 1 Io..5e9.,so.

To all whom it may concern:

knownthat I, ()LIVER V]. STEELE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the conntyofDallas and State of Texas, have invented certain newand useful improvements in .lt ieter BOX Covers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements .in meter hoX covers and pertains to ,a cover that when locked in position requires a key for v unlocking it.

It is well knownthat meter boxes are sunk in the ground and a removable/cover is necessary to permit accessto the boxior the purpose of takingthe reading, and for repairand replacementot the meter.

Theprimary object ofthepresentinvention is to provide a removable cover with a lock which is operatedby a ,key adapted to be passed through a .keyholeinthe coverand release the lock.

Another object of mypresent invention is to providethe underside crew cover ctthe box with an approximately tlshaped locking lever thatis intermediatelypivoted, one arm oiihe locking lever adapted .tofengage the underside otthe. ring lof the box, and the othenarni adapted vt0 heactuatedby a key i for unlocking-its-opposite end.

-Qthei object soithe invention Will appear from thefollowing description and disclosure o1. the invention.

,1 is atop plan ,view ofthe meter box cover which embodies my in vention.

Fig. ,2 ;is a central cross sectional" view taken through the lock.

,3 is an invertedplan view showing theloc k and the key shownindotted lines.

Fig..1 is va side. .elevation;of that part of the cover carrying thelock showing .it in locked position.

Fig. .5 is adetached perspective .view of the key.

Reterringnow to the drawings:

1 indicatesthe top ot' tlie neter box (not shown) which in the form here ,shown is round in plan .view. ltwill be understood that the top inlay-be. anydesired. shape without changing my improved lock. The ring 1 has a circular openingfl whichrw ill receive a round cover 3. This cover when in position rests upon an L-shaped supporting member 4 of the ring 1. The edgeof the cover is;provided ithan L-shaped outward.-

ly projecting .meinher 5 adapted to .inter look under thesupporting ledge 4-.

fll1e opposite. edge of the cover 3 is. .provided with -my improved lock. This lock comprises a'bell crank or U shaped member havingan arin-fi and anarm. 7. At the junction of the two ;ar1ns.6 and 7 I provides pivotal bearing 8 which is pivotedupon "a stud which downwardly projects from the under side ofthe covert). The stud,9 proiects considerahlybelowthe'hearingfi and a counter-pin 10 passes ',throiigh'1tl 1e Istu'd. The end ofthe counter-pin isflbentas shown at ll and receives one end 12 ofa sprin 13. This spring 13 is wound around the stud and its opposite end 14 engageswith the pivotal bearing 8.

A key opening 15 is made in the cover 3, and thisopening at itsflunder si-deis [provided with a projection 16, which increases in depth at .17 around the pivotal pointfot the key 18. v

Attention is directed .to the fact that the arm 7 has an inner curved surface ,19iwith which a projection of thekeyengagesto force the arm 7 inward when the keyis turned. By means otthespring 13 the arm 7 of the locking member is normallyheld in -.the position1 shown inFig. .3, that is, in contact with the raised portion 17 of the key-hole 15'. This position lot the locking member throws its lug21 outwardly under the v supporting ledge .41 of thering ,1 and locks the cover in position. YVhenit is desiredto unlock the cover thekey-i's'dnsert'ed far enough. ,to have its part-120 c1ear Ithe thickenedportion 17 when it is, drawnoutwardfandithen turned which will throw the arms 6 and 7 nward and carry the locking lug 21,.out ofengagement,with the supporting'ledge 4;

Itwill henoted that the distance between the part 20 of the key andthe'lugQl is sufficient to provide for the inward movement of the key to, pass the raised part-160i the keyhole. ,Whenthe key isipulled out-- ward the partQO is hr'oughtwin position f or Working on the curved portion 19 .of theiar'm 7 of thebellflcranki lever. Tl16. lQy l1O l 15 is made angular in shape. so that i't-takes that shape key towenter the hole and the key must .have the'partQO and the out out part 21" in order to pe rform; its function "as above stated.

For the purpose of giying strength to the part 6 whic li'carries the lug 21., I proyi'de the the cover to rest on the ledge and when the key is removed the lug engages the under side of the ledge 4B. As stated whenthe parts are in their locked positions the mem-' ber 22 takes the strain if it should be attempted to remove the cover without the ke l desire it to be understood that my invention is not limited to the precise constructions herein shown and described so long as the changes or modifications are within the scope of the appended claims.

What I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A look for a cover comprising a bell crank lever pivoted at the junction of its arms to the under side of the cover, the

outer arm adapted to project beyond the cover, a lug carried by the cover engaging the outer arm and a key-hole located between the arms whereby it maybe thrown to unlocked position by a key.

2; A lockfor a cover-comprising a bell crank lever pivoted at the junction of its arms to the underside of the cover, the outer arm having an intermediate lateral projection adapted to project beyond the cover, and a keyhole located between the,

said armsto receive a key to act on the inner side of the inner arm for withdrawing the said lug within the periphery of the cover. i I I 3. A lock for a cover comprising abell crank lever pivoted at the junction of its arms to the under side of thecover, the cover provided with a depending lug located to lap over the end "of the outer arm, said outer arm constructed to extend beyond the cover for the purpose described, and a keyhole located between the said arms to permit the insertion of the key to act on the inner side of the inner arm for withdrawing the outer arm for releasing the cover. 4. A'lock for a cover comprising a bell crank lever, pivoted at the junction of the arms to the under side of the cover, the cover having a depending L-shaped lug adapted to overlap the extremity of the outer arm, the outer arm having a projection ex tending laterally outward from the said arm for the purpose described, a keyhole located between the said arms adapted to receive a key to engage the inner side of the inner. arm for withdrawing'the said lug.

I crank lever 5. A look for a cover comprising a bell crank lever, pivoted at the junction of its arms'to the under side of the cover, the

outer arm constructed to extend beyond the said cover, the cover having a keyhole located between the said arms, the keyhole provided with a depending flange in the line of travel of the inner arm, and a spring for holding the inner arm in engagement with the said flange.

6. A look for a cover comprising a cover, a bell crank lever pivoted at the junction of its arms to the under side of the cover,

arms of the lever, the outer arm of the lever adapted to project outwardly to lock the cover in place, a spring engaging the lever to hold it in its locked position, a keyhole opening provided with a projecting, sur rounding wall adapted toengage the inner arm'of the lever, and means to move the lever against the tension of the spring, for the purpose describedr 9. A look for a cover comprising a cover, a bell crank lever pivoted to the under side of the cover, located between the arms of the lever, the keyhole opening provided with a projecting, surrounding wall, the surrounding wall at one end of the angular keyhole opening an annular shaped keyhole higher than at the other end, whereby a key of a particular shape isrequired to operate the lever, for the purpose idescribed. 10. A look for a cover comprising a bell crank leverpivoted to the under side of the cover, the outer arm of the lever adapted to project outwardly to lock the cover in place, a coil spring having one end attached to the lever and its opposite end to the lever pivot to normally hold the lever in an outp the partsoperwardly extended position, ating as described.

11. A lock for a cover comprising a bell pivotally mounted upon the under side of the cover, the outer arm of the crank adaptedto project outwardly, a lug carried by the cover engaging the arm, and means to move the lever, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature. I

OLIVER W. STEELE.

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